Chhetri to play first game for Chirag on Feb 20

New Delhi: India international Sunil Chhetri is set to play his first match for Chirag United in the I-League Round XV game against Salgaocar in Kolkata after getting his International Transfer Certificate from his former club Sporting Kansas City.

Chhetri, who was released by Major League Soccer on Monday, signed for Chirag United yesterday for the rest of I-League season and he is expected to play against Salgaocar on February 20. “We have got the ITC and we are looking for Chhetri playing in the Round XV match on February 20,” club chairman Kaustuv Roy told PTI after his side played out a goalless draw with Indian Arrows in the Round XIV match at Gurgaon. The registration of Chhetri with the I-League is expected to be done in two days and he should be ready to play for his new club. Roy said with Chhetri bring roped in, the club is aiming for a top-three finish in the I-League.“He (Chhetri) is our big signing and our target is top-three finish in the I-League. We are now seventh (with 19 points from 14 matches) in the table. There are 12 rounds to go and we are hoping to finish in top three,” he said. Chhetri, who became only the second Indian player of the post-Independence era to play in a foreign professional league when he signed for Sporting Kansas City in March last, had scored two goals for India in the Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar last month. PTI